World's Lightest Solid! (It defies physics)

Summary

This video explores aerogel, the lightest solid with 99.8% air content, showcasing its remarkable thermal insulation, hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. The host demonstrates aerogel's ability to withstand extreme temperatures, float on water, and block noise. Innovations like Solar Core's flexible aerogel composite are highlighted, which overcome the material's brittleness. Experiments include protecting objects from fire, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and staying dry underwater using aerogel, revealing its potential for various applications.

Takeaways

• 😲 Aerogel is the lightest and lowest density solid in the world, with 99.8% air content, resembling 'frozen smoke'.
• 🌡 It can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -275°C to 650°C, providing exceptional heat protection.
• 👆 Despite its light weight, aerogel is brittle and can shatter easily under slight pressure, turning into dust.
• 💧 The dust from aerogel becomes 100% hydrophobic when applied to surfaces, making them waterproof.
• 🔧 Aerogel's hydrophobic properties can be demonstrated through simple experiments, such as floating on water and not getting wet.
• 🔥 It has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid, making it an excellent insulator, used by NASA for spacecraft insulation.
• 🧪 Aerogel was invented about 100 years ago as a result of a scientific bet to replace liquid in silica gel with gas without losing its structure.
• 🛠 The process of supercritical drying is used to create aerogel, which involves high heat and pressure to remove liquid without collapsing the structure.
• 📏 Aerogel's pores are nanometer-sized, much smaller than the width of a human hair, which contributes to its unique properties.
• 🔊 It can also block noise, as demonstrated by lining a box with aerogel foam and significantly reducing sound levels.
• ❄️ Aerogel's insulation properties are so effective that it can protect objects from extreme cold, such as that of liquid nitrogen.

Q & A

What is the aerogel described in the script?

Aerogel is a gel composed of 99.8% air, also known as AEL, which is the lightest and lowest density solid in the world. It looks like frozen smoke and is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures from -275°C to 650°C.

How light is the aerogel mentioned in the script?

The aerogel is so light that it weighs only 1.74 grams, making it feel as if one is holding a piece of the sky.

What is the unique property of aerogel when it comes into contact with water?

When aerogel dust is applied to a surface, it becomes 100% hydrophobic, making the surface completely waterproof.

What is the significance of the aerogel's hydrophobic property demonstrated in the script?

The aerogel's hydrophobic property is demonstrated by its ability to float on water and create a barrier that prevents water from wetting it, which is shown through the experiment with the match and the spoon.

How is aerogel used in the context of sound?

Aerogel can block noise due to its nano-porous structure. In the script, a box lined with aerogel foam is used to demonstrate this by significantly reducing the noise from a speaker.

What is the process called that was used to create aerogel?

The process used to create aerogel is called supercritical drying, which involves subjecting the material to high heat and pressure to remove all the liquid without collapsing the structure, leaving behind a three-dimensional porous framework of silica filled with air.

What are the challenges with using aerogel in practical applications?

One of the main challenges with aerogel is its brittleness. It can easily shatter into dust with a small amount of pressure, which limits its use in various applications.

How does the script address the issue of aerogel's brittleness?

The script introduces a solution developed by Oro Labs, which is a closed-cell foam combined with aerogel. This combination results in a flexible and durable aerogel composite that overcomes the brittleness issue.

What is the temperature range that aerogel can withstand according to the script?

Aerogel can withstand extreme temperatures from -275°C to 650°C, making it an excellent material for insulation and protection against heat.

How does aerogel appear when exposed to different types of light?

Aerogel appears blue when exposed to daylight due to Rayleigh scattering of shorter wavelengths like blue and purple. Under ultraviolet light, it appears opaque, and under infrared light, it appears transparent.

What experiment is conducted in the script to demonstrate the aerogel's insulation capabilities?

An experiment is conducted where a mini gummy burger is exposed to the flames of a Bunsen burner, and another mini gummy burger is protected by aerogel to demonstrate the insulation capabilities of aerogel.

What is the final experiment conducted in the script involving liquid nitrogen?

The final experiment involves the host getting sprayed with liquid nitrogen while wearing an aerogel-insulated jacket to demonstrate the material's insulation capabilities against extreme cold.